New Access to Jackson Blue Springs

[Captain Bil]

The electronic access gate to JB is up and running. For now the procedure remains the same as always. Go to the Sherriff's Office and sign in. Instead of a key, you'll get a combination.

Last night the Deputy said they are working on a better system of control, but until they come up with one, that's the way it'll be. There will be some growing pains but in the long run it should be much simpler for everyone.

[RN]

That's great news! Was there a card swiper built into the gate? Although this takes care of the disappearing key issue, I'd like to see annual pass holders be able to just call in over the phone to sign in/out. It would save me about 45 minutes, which is more time than it takes me to launch my boat and get to JB.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Thanks for the update!

[Sludge]

I really ought to keep quiet, but here goes.

Saturday when I signed in, the deputy said there's no lock. Fine. When I pulled up to the gate, the section in the middle had fresh primer on both sides, and the latching mechanism had obviously been changed. I got out, but I couldn't lift the mechanism. I tried several ways, but it wouldn't budge. It appeared the hole where the lock used to go through had a bolt through it. Was I supposed to unbolt it? Maybe that's what she meant by "there's no lock."

But I had no tools. I looked to the right of the gate, up the hill, and I saw that all the logs had been cleared out and at least one vehicle had scaled the hill to go around the gate.

Was I supposed to take my sad little Blazer up that hill? That pathetic little V-6 probably couldn't make it. So I walked to the pavilion to ask what I was supposed to do.

The guy there said you don't lift the latch. You slide it to the side.

I walked back to the gate and sure enough, it just slid right over. What a moron!

During the course of the day, though, I found out two other divers had the same problem.

[sskasser]

That half-century is catching up with ya, bud!

To those responsible for the new system...THANKS!!

I really ought to keep quiet,<snip>

Ya right, like that'll ever happen!

[DeWayne]

I really ought to keep quiet, but here goes.

Saturday when I signed in, the deputy said there's no lock. Fine. When I pulled up to the gate, the section in the middle had fresh primer on both sides, and the latching mechanism had obviously been changed. I got out, but I couldn't lift the mechanism. I tried several ways, but it wouldn't budge. It appeared the hole where the lock used to go through had a bolt through it. Was I supposed to unbolt it? Maybe that's what she meant by "there's no lock."

But I had no tools. I looked to the right of the gate, up the hill, and I saw that all the logs had been cleared out and at least one vehicle had scaled the hill to go around the gate.

Was I supposed to take my sad little Blazer up that hill? That pathetic little V-6 probably couldn't make it. So I walked to the pavilion to ask what I was supposed to do.

The guy there said you don't lift the latch. You slide it to the side.

I walked back to the gate and sure enough, it just slid right over. What a moron!

During the course of the day, though, I found out two other divers had the same problem.

If you are talking about the tire tracks to the right of the gate (as you look from the road) they were made a couple of years ago. A couple of kids sneaked in when someone left the gate open (off season prior to all the changes), got pissed off when told they would have to wait until a diver was ready to leave or call the sheriff to come let them out. They opted instead to drive around the side. Can't remember the make, just that it was a small to mid-sized car, so I am sure your little Blazer would have got you around (as I recall, their big problem was getting out of the ditch.)

[Sludge]

Some logs had obviously been moved recently, and the tire tracks were fresh. I'd be willing to bet they were less than three days old.

[Captain Bil]

That's great news! Was there a card swiper built into the gate? Although this takes care of the disappearing key issue, I'd like to see annual pass holders be able to just call in over the phone to sign in/out. It would save me about 45 minutes, which is more time than it takes me to launch my boat and get to JB.

It's a combination pad, I didn't see a card swipe.

And just to add to Sludge's embarassment, I entered the combination several times and stood there waiting for the gate to open. Once it dawned on me that it wasn't going to swing open on its own (and this took several tries), I then proceeded to to try every way of opening that latch except sliding it, which is of course, the correct way. I eventually got in and was thankful there was no one watching my futile attempts to shove a square peg into a round hole!

To paraphrase (loosely) Einstein I think: Stupidity is to repeatedly try the exact same thing over and over expecting different results.

[RN]

ROFL!!! You guys are all too funny! Thanks for the laughs!

Of course, I probably would have done the same thing, but I have the advantage of reading about it before I encounter that issue. Too funny!!!


Russell, you don't have a save a dive kit in your truck? If I was out there, you would have seen me breaking out the tool box and disassembling that gate!

[Sludge]

Of course, I probably would have done the same thing, but I have the advantage of reading about it before I encounter that issue.

No, you'll still do it. Even after my fiasco in trying to get in the park, when I left I still tried to lift it. Maybe since I've lifted that lever to open the gate two hundred times it's muscle memory. And I know you've been there a lot more times than me!

And yes, I usually carry enough tools to not only rebuild regulators, but also do mechanical repairs. But I thought I was going to have to bring Ginnie (puppy dog) as my mother couldn't keep her for the day, so I brought only the essentials to make room for her beanbag bed. When my mother decided to keep her I never added the toolbox.